England’s victorious women’s football team is celebrating their incredible achievement in the Euro 2025 tournament with an open-top bus parade in central London on Tuesday. Following their 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Spain in the final, the Lionesses will parade along The Mall, starting at 12:10 BST. The procession will end with a ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace.
Fans from across the country—including places like Gloucester, Norwich, and Exeter—began gathering early in the morning to show their support. The event will be broadcast live across major TV channels, including BBC, ITV, and Sky. On Monday, the squad was warmly welcomed back to the UK, where they were greeted by jubilant crowds at Southend Airport before attending a reception at Downing Street, hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
Homecoming Celebration at Buckingham Palace
The ceremony at Buckingham Palace will be hosted by former England star Alex Scott, and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described it as a chance for fans to “cheer these heroes home.” Sue Day, director of women’s football at the FA, highlighted that this moment marks a significant milestone for the future of women’s football in England, calling it a “moment in time that we can really capture to change the world a little bit.”
Historic Euro 2025 Victory
The Lionesses’ victory in Basel on Sunday secured their second consecutive European Championship title, making them the first English football team to win a major tournament on foreign soil. Chloe Kelly scored the decisive penalty following two crucial saves by goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, securing the 3-1 win in the shootout. Over 16 million people watched the final on television, making it the most-watched TV moment of the year in the UK.
Political and Public Support
At the Downing Street reception, England manager Sarina Wiegman reflected on the team’s achievements, humorously noting the difference between standing in front of a pitch and at No 10. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who was in Scotland, also showed his support via a video call with the squad.
During the event, the government announced plans to double the amount of time allocated for women’s and girls’ football at government-funded sports facilities. The FA and officials discussed the ongoing need for more opportunities for girls to play football in schools and for the sport to have more exposure on television.
Further Plans and Recognition
King Charles III expressed the Royal Family’s admiration and appreciation for the team, with talks underway for a potential reception at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle later in the year. While some fans have called for extra recognition through national honours or a bank holiday, Downing Street dismissed the idea of a holiday, humorously commenting that “if we had a bank holiday every time the Lionesses win, we’d never go to work.”
Postal Tribute
In a show of national pride, Royal Mail announced a special postmark commemorating the Lionesses’ triumph. The stamp, reading “It’s Home. Again. Champions of Europe 2025. England Women’s Football Squad,” will be applied to stamped mail across the UK from Monday to Friday.
With their Euro 2025 victory, the Lionesses have not only proven themselves as champions but have also inspired a new generation of girls across the UK to take up the sport.